Water Heater Repair in Custer, SD
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Custer winters put your water heater to work
Groundwater comes into your tank cold, and with winter nights averaging 15°F from December through February, the burner or element has to run longer to bring it up to temperature. That extra runtime wears on the parts that do the heating, the gas valve, the thermocouple, or the electric elements, depending on what kind of tank you have.
Heat is needed here nine months of the year, September through May, so a water heater gets little break from the cold water coming in. When a part starts to fail, you will likely notice it first as water that will not get hot, or takes far longer to do so than it used to.
- 15°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 9 months
- September through May, the months homes here need heat
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- Why is my water heater leaking from the bottom?
- Most of the time this means the tank itself has rusted through and is failing. Sediment builds up on the bottom of the tank over years, and it holds moisture against the steel until it corrodes and cracks. Once the tank is leaking, it needs to be replaced, not patched. If the water is coming from a fitting or the drain valve instead of the tank, a contractor can often fix that without replacing the whole unit, so it is worth having it looked at before you assume the worst.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The most common cause is a worn thermocouple, the small sensor that tells the gas valve the pilot is burning. When it wears out or drifts out of position, it shuts the gas off even though the flame is lit. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft in the space where the water heater sits can also blow the flame out. A contractor can test the thermocouple and clean or adjust what needs it.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater are repairable. Mineral buildup on the heat exchanger is the most common issue, and it can usually be flushed out to restore hot water flow. Ignition failures, sensor faults, and venting problems are also things a contractor can diagnose and fix without replacing the unit. Whether repair makes sense for your specific unit depends on its age and what's actually wrong, which a contractor can tell you after looking at it.